Brooder



Nov. 2, 1948. l J. D. BURKHOLDER, JR 2,452,900

` BRooDER Filed July 3l, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, i948. J. D. BURKHOLDER, JR

BROODER Filed July s1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMM ATTORNEY' Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

My invention relates to broeders.

An important object of the' invention is to pro Vide means for applying the source of heat at a point near the marginal edge of the hover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a iiexible tubular curtain, which when deflated will serve as the ordinary curtain for the hover, and which when inflated will introduce diffused heated air into the brooder and will also provide ventilation for the interior of the broeder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined curtain and heated air supply device which is arranged near and inwardly of the marginal edge of the hover for affording different heated zones.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an air diffusing device of the above mentioned character, which may be employed with or without heat, to control the humidity of the airiwithin the broeder and brooder room.

A further object of the invention is tolconstruct the hover as a separate unit from the air diffusing means, to permit of the convenient removal of the hover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular curtain which is inflated for supplying air into the hover, the curtain rising at its lower edge when inflated, thereby producing an uncovered passage for the chicks, which will be attracted to the interior of the broeder by a source of light withinthe broeder shining through such passage.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course'of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a central vertical section through a brooder embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a plan View of water pipes and air diffusing means, parts in section,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line -l of Figure 3, the curtains being deflated,

Figure 5 is a similar view, the curtains being inflated,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View of a'furnace and associated elements,

Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the end of the tubular curtain, taken on line '1 1 of- Figure 4, andV Figure s is a detauedtransverse fseien through the perforated pipe of the supporting frame, taken through the perforations.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates the floor of a brooder room.

Arranged above the floor is a hover II, which may be formed of sheet metal; or any other suitable material, and which is preferably square or rectangular. The hover tapers upwardly and its sections converge upwardly. Atits top, the hover has a draft pipe I2 connected therewith, and this arranged within the pipe I2 to effect a forced draft. The hover may be supported at a suitable elevation above the floor I0by any suitable means, and for this purpose the hover is attached to vertical legs I4. I arrange legs Il at the corners of the hover, and when the hover is made sufficiently large, I would also employ intermediate legs I4 at each side of the hover. These legs are rigidly secured to the hover by any suitable means.

Means are provided to supply moisture into the broeder near the marginal edge of the brooder. This means comprises a square or rectangular tubular frame I5, including pipes It, connected by elbows I7. Each pipe I6 is provided with small apertures I3, preferably in its upper portion. An opposed pair of pipes I5 have horizontal T-ceuplings I9 connected therein, and these T-couplings` have the horizontal extensions 20 of legs 2d connested therewith. These legs are vertical and all of the legs 20 excepting one are preferably in the form of solid rods, but one leg 20 is tubular for connection with a water supply pipe 2l, leading to a water tank 22, disposed at an` elevation above the frame I5, and supported by any suit` feed. This is the same feed sack referred to infrny co-pending application for Broeder, led August 17, 1943, Serial Number 497,820, now Patent Number 2,385,682. Each tubular curtain 23 is closed at its opposite ends and has a tubular neck in its outer side near its top, as indicated at 23',

for the passage of the horizontal T-coupling I9, the tubular'neck of the curtainbeing firmly tied to the coupling I9 at 24. Each curtain is suspended at its top by the apertured pipe` It arsection, as the inflation increases.

3 ranged therein and the top of the tubular curtain is in permanent contact with the upper apertured portion of the pipe. The tubular curtain 23 depends downwardly below the pipe I6, and when deflated, its lower edge is in close relation with the floor.

Means are provided to supply air under pres sure, heated or unheated, into the tubular curtains. For this purpose a Y-coupling 25 leads into the adjacent end of each pair oi tubular curtains. The tubular curtains are provided at their ends adjacent to the Y-couplings 25 with tubular necks or extensions 26', roviding openings for receiving the diverging ends of the Y-couplings. Cords 25, or the like, are employed to tie the tubular necks 26 securely to the Y-couplings. The joints thus formed by the tubular necks 26 with the Y-couplings 25 are sufliciently air tight to permit the Y-couplings to form air passages into the tubular curtains for inflating the same with air under pressure. Similar connections are made between the pipes l and the ends of the tubular curtains 23. For this purpose the curtains are provided at their opposite ends with upper tubular necks or extensions 2'I', for receiving the ends of the pipes i6. Additional cords 28 are employed,k for securely tying the necks 2 to the pipes i6. Each Y-coupling 25 is connected with a pipe 2, connected with a pipe 27e, which is suitably supported and which leads to a source of heated air under pressure or to a source of unheated air under pressure The pipe 21a leads to a jacket 2 of a furnace V28', having a blower 2B. This furnace and blower may be operated to supply air, heated or unheated, under suitable pressure to the pipe 2i. This furnace is preferably the same as shown and described in my said co-pending application for Brooder, Serial Number 497,820.

A thermostat 28 is arranged within the brooder and when this thermostat calls for heat, heated air is supplied through the pipes 2'! into the tubu'- lar curtains. This thermostat is shown arranged upon the inner sides of the curtains 23, but it may be disposed upon the outer sides of the curtains 23.

A humidostat 29 is arranged within the broeder upon the inner sides of the tubular curtains, although it may be disposed upon the outer sides of the tubular curtains. This humidostat is connected with wires 3l) and 3i. The wire SI has a solenoid 32 connected therein and this solenoid when energized opens a valve 33, connected in the pipe 2|.

The hover I I is a separate unit from the tubular frame I and curtains supported thereby, and the hover may be conveniently removed from this frame. The tubular curtains 23 are disposed near and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of the hover II. These curtains provide an inner heated zone A and an outer marginal heated zone B.

When the thermostat 213 does not call for heat, the tubular curtains 23 are deiiated" and form substantially flat flexible curtains. The chicks may readily pass under the bottom edges of these curtains. When the thermostat 28 calls for heat, heated air under pressure is supplied from the furnace through the pipes 2l and the tubular curtains are inflated. When these tubular curtains become inflated, they increase in thickness and approach a more or less circular form, in cross This action causes the bottom edge of each curtain to rise from the floor I IJ, forming an increased passage C.

- 4 The heated air within the inflated tubular curtains passes through the same and is diiused into the broeder. The damper I3 is set at a selected position to regulate the normal flow of air through the pipe I2 for regulating the ventilation of the broeder. When the curtains 23 are inflated and rise, the ventilation of the brooder is increased, as a further amount of cool air enters through the passage C. There is always a certain amount of ventilation in the brooder, as some cooled air enters at the lower edge of the curtain, and heated air passes the damper I 3. The extent of this ventilation is regulated by settingr the damper at the selected position. Further, the passage C permits the light from the lamp II to be visible and the chicks will be induced to enter the brooder. The tubular curtains 23 supply heated air to the inner and outer zones A and B. Some chicks may remain in the outer zone B, the outer side of which is ordinarily open for more complete Ventilation. In extremely cold weather I may attach a curtain 33 to the edge of the hover I l to surround the outer side ofthe outer zone B. This would not be a tubular curtain, but would be an ordinary single layer curtain.

When the humidostat 2S calls for moisture, while the heated air is being supplied into the tubular curtains, the circuit is closed by the.

humidostat and the solenoid 32 is energized to open the valve 33. Water is then supplied through the pipe 2l to the perforated pipes I and is applied to the inner surface of the upper portions of the tubular curtains and this water travels down'- wardly by capillary action and by gravity along the sides of the tubular curtains. The heated air within the tubular curtains becomes laden with moisture and then passes into the broeder. When the humidostat is satisfied the supply of water to the tubular curtains is cut off. Water may be supplied to the tubular curtains when they are inated with air at atmospheric temperature. Air at atmospheric temperature may be fed into the tubular curtains under pressure for the purpose of cooling, Ventilating, or adding moisture to the air in the brooder. This is done by operating the blower 29 when the furnace 28 is not operating to heat the air. This operaition of the furnace is disclosed in my said copending application Serial Number 497,82).

Since I have shown a square tubular frame I have shown four tubular curtains. The term tubular curtain means is employed to cover one or more tubular curtains.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,V size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a brooder, a hover, tubular flexible side curtain means arranged beneath the hover and defining the side of'a Zone, the curtain .means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, and

means to supply air under pressure to the tubularY curtain means.

2. In a brooder, a hover, tubular flexible side curtain means arranged beneath the hover and defining the sid-e of a zone arranged inwardly ci the curtain means, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, andV means to supply heated air under pressure to the tubular curtain means.

3. In a brooder, a hover, tubular flexible side curtain means arranged beneath the hover and defining the side ofV a zone arranged inwardly of the curtain means, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, the curtain means having its lower edge extending downwardly adjacent to the bottom of the zone when the curtain means is deflated, the lower edge being free to rise when the curtain means is inflated, and means to supply air under pressure to the tubular curtain means to inflate the same.

4. In a brooder, a hover, tubular flexible foraminous side curtain means arranged beneath the hover and defining the side of a. zone, the curtain means having a vertical dimension much greater than its horizontal transverse dimension and extending downwardly so that its lower edge is adjacent to the bottom of the zone when the curtain means is deflated, the lower edge being free to rise when the curtain means is inflated, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, and means to supply air under pressure to the curtain means to inflate the same.

5. In a brooder, a h'over, tubular flexible fabric side curtain means arranged within the hover,

the tubular curtain means extending along the g marginal edge of the hover and spaced inwardly from such edge for a substantial distance to provide inner and outer zones, the tubular curtain means dening the adjacent sides of the inner and outer zones, the tubular curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, and means to supply heated air under pressure into the tubular curtain means.

6. In a brooder, a hover, tubular flexible foraminous and absorbent side curtain means for the hover, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, means to supply liquid water into contact with the curtain means, and means to supply air under pressure into the tubular curtain means, the air under pressure inilating the tubular .curtain means and passing outwardly through the same and taking up the Water absorbed by the curtain means.

7. In a brooder, a hover, a tubular flexible absorbent fabric side curtain means for the hover, a, pipe arranged within the tubular curtain means and having apertures to supply liquid water into contact with the curtain means, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, means to supply water to the pipe, and means to supply air under pressure into the tubular curtain means.

8. In a brooder, a. hover, a tubular support arranged within the hover to receive water and having apertures, tubular exible fabric side curtain means arranged within the hover and suspended from the tubular support and defining the side of a zone arranged within the curtain means, the curtain means extending downwardly adjacent to the bottom of the zone, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, means to supply water to the tubular support, and

Y `vmeans to. introduce air under pressure into the tubular curtain means to inate the same.

9. In a brooder, a hover, a floor, means to support the hover at a suitable elevation above the floor, a tubular frame arranged within the hover and extending along its marginal edge, the tubular frame having apertures, means to support the tubular frame at a suitable elevation above the iloor, a tubular flexible curtain means mounted upon the tubular frame and having its upper portion engaging the tubular frame and depending beneath the tubular frame, the tubu lar curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, the tubular curtain means having its lower edge disposed adjacent to the floor and free to rise when the tubular curtain means is inflated, the tubular curtain means dening the side of a zone arranged within the same, means to supply water to the tubular frame, and means to supply air under pressure into the tubular curtain means to inflate the same.

l0. In a brooder, a hover, an outlet pipe for the hover, a damper for the outlet pipe, means to support the hover, a tubular apertured frame mounted within the hover and extending along `its marginaledge, a tubular flexible fabric curtain means mounted upon the tubular frame and having its lower edge arranged adjacent to the bottom of a zone which has its side dened by the curtain means, the tubular curtain means being closed soA that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, means to support the tubular frame, means to supply air under pressure into the tubular curtain means to inflate the same, the hover and its supporting means constituting `a separate unit with respect to the tubular supporting frame so that the hover may be removed from the tubular supporting frame.

11. In a brooder, a hover, a tubular flexible fabric side curtain means arranged within the hover and dening the side of a Zone, the curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be builtl up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, and means for introducing water and air under pressure into the tubular curtain means to inflate the same and supply moisture to the zone.

12. In a brooder, a hover, a tubular flexible side curtain means arranged within the hover and extending along its marginal edges and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges to form inner and outer zones and defining the adjacent sides of such zones, the tubular curtain means being closed so that a pressure may be built up therein in excess of atmospheric pressure, means to supply heated air under pressure into the tubular curtain means, and a ilexible curtain to cover the outer side of the outer zone.

JOHN DAVID BURKHOLDER, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 356,120 Haight Jan. 18, 1887 730,640 Grosland June 9, 1903 733,938 Bates July 2, 1903 773,660 Malmgren Nov. 1, 1904 813,115 Rav Feb. 20, 1906 1,907,121 Robbins May 2, 1933 1,936,978 Casey Nov. 28, 1933 2,004,147 Worrall June 11, 1935 2,088,962 Kleucker Aug. 3, 1937 

